EP1091046B1 - Closing device for a manhole or an inspection shaft - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a manhole closure inspection or inspection comprising at least one covering element (buffer or grid) articulated on a support frame.

It applies in particular to the closing devices of inspection or inspection chimneys of an underground water network, such as manholes or sidewalks, to the closing devices of technical inspection chambers of a network. wired underground, such as hatches, and to the coronation devices of manholes such as road grilles.

In road systems of this type, access to water networks or cable networks traversing the basement is made possible by the presence of manholes or hatches comprising a frame closed by a covering element, usually cast iron, arranged flush with the surface of the ground.

Advantageously, the covering element is pivotally mounted on the frame, which facilitates the opening and closing of this element, limits the risk of accidents during these operations and avoids the lifting of the covering element when the passage of a heavy vehicle generating a vertical aspiration.

In addition, to more easily access the well closed by the gaze, the covering element must be able to be removed (removed), which assumes a removable hinge; however, the mounting mode of this hinge must not allow the removal or opening of the element if it is otherwise locked, for example by lifting the element in the hinge region.

Finally, it is also desirable to be able to control the opening and closing maneuvers of the covering element by guiding the latter when it tilts around the hinge axis; this avoids the bad bearing of the element on the frame, especially during a sudden closure when the item is pushed back without accompanying during its pivoting.

These problems have been partially solved by the document GB 415 075 where a curved portion of reliefs located under the covering element, near the hinge, provides a guiding function of the element when it comes into contact with a part curved corresponding of a frame surface serving as support for the element. These guide means allowing a good final positioning of the cover element in the frame in the direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation (longitudinal direction), however, are not operational from the beginning, but only at the end of the race. of the element, which leaves the risk that it falls without the guide means have begun to cooperate.

EP 0 084 510 shows such an improved device by integrating the guide means to the hinge, which allows to have a guide from the beginning of the closing of the covering element; the solution described consists in providing the hinge axis of the frame and a hinge fork of the buffer of complementary profiles whose cooperation ensures the guidance of the tilting. However, the continuous curved shapes of the complementary profiles do not prohibit any longitudinal movement of the covering element in the frame, particularly towards the edge thereof, which is opposite to the axis of articulation, and it is necessary to provide additional positioning means in V.

The object of the invention is to overcome these drawbacks, and more specifically to create a manhole or inspection device comprising a frame and at least one covering element adapted to be carried by this frame, in which the closing movement of the element is guided over its entire stroke and the positioning of the element in the closed position is provided by hinge hinge means without the need to provide additional positioning means.

The invention also aims to create such an improved device to allow the removal of the cover element by lifting thereof provided the incline of a few degrees, which is possible only in the case of a non-locking or unlocked element.

The invention therefore relates to a manhole closure inspection or inspection, comprising a frame, at least one covering element adapted to be worn by the frame, and means for articulating the element relative to the frame, the articulation means comprising at least one pivot extending transversely in at least one cell formed in a surrounding wall of the frame, and at least one pin in protrusion at the periphery of the element, the tenon being adapted to extend into the cell and having a fork provided with two branches which, in the closed position of the element on the frame, extend one to the above the pivot beyond it towards the bottom of the cell and the other below the pivot below the upper branch, characterized in that the fork and the pivot comprise vis-à-vis sliding surfaces adapted to slide against each other during a pivoting of the element around the pivot, and one of the organs that are the top branch and the pivot comprises at least one recess of retained and the other at least one retaining lug at least partially accommodated in the recess when the element is in the closed position to then prevent a translation of the element in the direction of the distance of the tenon of the bottom of the alveolus and thus prevent the free end of the lower branch from falling below of the pivot.

Thus, the element is guided over its entire closing stroke and further its longitudinal positioning in the closed position is ensured.

Advantageously, the branch extending in the closed position below the pivot then has its free end below the pivot.

Thus, the removal of the covering element by lifting thereof can be performed without the need to bring it previously in a vertical position.

For example, the pivot has a generally cylindrical shape centered on an axis extending transversely to the cell, and the branch extending in the closed position below the pivot then extends only below the axis of 'joint.

In this case, the removal of the covering element by lifting it requires only an inclination of only a few degrees (almost horizontal lifting).

• l'ergot de retenue et l'évidement présentent des surfaces inclinées en vis-à-vis lorsque l'élément est en position de fermeture,
• le pivot comporte au moins un ergot de guidage en saillie dans une direction inclinée vers le bas et vers l'intérieur du cadre,
• la branche s'étendant en position de fermeture au-dessus du pivot comporte, à son extrémité libre, à proximité du fond de l'alvéole, une dent en saillie vers le bas quand l'élément est en position de fermeture,
• la branche s'étendant en position de fermeture au-dessus du pivot présente au moins un évidement se prolongeant dans le fond de la fourche, et le pivot présente au moins un ergot de retenue en saillie vers le haut et qui est au moins partiellement logé dans l'évidement quand l'élément est en position de fermeture,
• la branche s'étendant en position de fermeture au-dessus du pivot présente deux évidements se prolongeant dans le fond de la fourche, creusés dans des régions d'extrémités latérales de cette branche, et deux ergots de retenue en saillie vers le haut et portés par au moins un pivot sont au moins partiellement logés chacun dans un évidement quand l'élément est en position de fermeture,
• le pivot présente au moins un évidement en vis-à-vis du fond de l'alvéole, et la branche s'étendant en position de fermeture au-dessus du pivot présente au moins un ergot de retenue qui est au moins partiellement logé dans l'évidement quand l'élément est en position de fermeture,
• le pivot présente un évidement approximativement central en vis-à-vis du fond de l'alvéole, et la branche s'étendant en position de fermeture au-dessus du pivot présente un ergot de retenue qui est au moins partiellement logé dans l'évidement quand l'élément est en position de fermeture.

The device may further include one or more of the following features:

• the retaining lug and the recess have inclined surfaces vis-à-vis when the element is in the closed position,
• the pivot comprises at least one guide pin protruding in a direction inclined downwards and towards the inside of the frame,
• the branch extending in the closed position above the pivot comprises, at its free end, near the bottom of the cell, a tooth projecting downwards when the element is in the closed position,
• the branch extending in the closed position above the pivot has at least one recess extending into the bottom of the fork, and the pivot has at least one retaining lug projecting upwards and which is at least partially housed in the recess when the element is in the closed position,
• the branch extending in the closed position above the pivot has two recesses extending into the bottom of the fork, dug in regions of lateral ends of this branch, and two retaining lugs protruding upwards and carried by at least one pivot are at least partially each housed in a recess when the element is in the closed position,
• the pivot has at least one recess vis-à-vis the bottom of the cell, and the branch extending in the closed position above the pivot has at least one retaining pin which is at least partially housed in the when the element is in the closed position,
• the pivot has an approximately central recess opposite the bottom of the recess, and the branch extending in the closed position above the pivot has a retaining lug which is at least partially housed in the recess when the element is in the closed position.

• la figure 1 est une vue de dessus d'un dispositif selon l'invention,
• les figures 2A à 2D sont des coupes longitudinales schématiques d'une partie du dispositif de la figure 1 selon la ligne II-II de cette figure, très agrandie, montrant les moyens d'articulation formant charnière dans quatre positions relatives différentes, et
• les figures 3A à 3D sont des coupes longitudinales schématiques correspondant à celles des figures 2A à 2D respectivement, pour une autre forme de réalisation des moyens d'articulation formant charnière.

Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description of embodiments of the invention which follows, given by way of non-limiting example and illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which:

• FIG. 1 is a view from above of a device according to the invention,
• FIGS. 2A to 2D are schematic longitudinal sections of a part of the device of FIG. 1 along line II-II of this figure, greatly enlarged, showing the hinge articulation means in four different relative positions, and
• Figures 3A to 3D are schematic longitudinal sections corresponding to those of Figures 2A to 2D respectively, for another embodiment of the hinge hinge means.

The viewing device shown in Figure 1 in the closed position is made of ductile iron and comprises a frame 1, and within this frame, a buffer or two buffers 2 juxtaposed (here two buffers) forming cover elements.

The frame 1 comprises a surrounding wall 11 or covering elements, which has a face 111 facing inwards, and reliefs (not shown in the drawings) integral with the inner face of the wall Surroundings that support the element (s) 2.

Each covering element comprises a edge 21 which, in the closed position, faces the face 111 of the frame facing towards the inside thereof, and a face 22 which, in the same position, is approximately horizontal and extends to the upper part of the element.

So that the viewing device can be released for a visit or an inspection, by pivoting the one or more elements 2 covering, or by removal of this or these elements, it is provided with hinge means around an axis 12, forming a removable hinge.

These articulation means comprise one or more cells 13 each constituted by a recess in the surrounding wall 11 of the frame, and one or more pins 23 carried by each element 2, these tenons projecting from the edge 21 that is to say at the periphery of the element and being positioned and dimensioned to extend into the cells when the element rests on the frame in order to maintain a maximum access opening; they also comprise, in each cell, at least one pivot 14 of generally cylindrical shape extending transversely to the cell, for example a through pivot or one or two pins carried by the side walls of the cell; each element 2 is thus articulated with respect to the frame by one or more pivots aligned along the same axis of articulation 12.

In Figure 1 where the frame 1 is in the form of a square and where the two elements 2 are in the form of trapezes (or approximately triangles) equal rectangles arranged symmetrically with respect to the center of the square, these two elements are articulated to the frame each at two pins carried by the side of the trapezium perpendicular to the bases, and two cells carved in the parallel sides of the surrounding wall which are vis-à-vis each of one of these two sides of the trapezium; the elements each comprise two slots 221 each for receiving a gripping tool to rotate them, and after removal of the hinge, to deposit (the gripping lights of only one of the two elements are shown).

More specifically, the post 23 comprises a fork with two branches extending in the cell, one above the other, approximately longitudinally when the element 2 is in the closed position; the upper branch then extends above the pivot 14 beyond it in the direction of the bottom 15 of the recess in the surrounding wall 11 constituting the cell 13 (thus considered here in the horizontal direction), and the lower branch below the pivot preferably below the upper branch, so that it is not necessary to reach a vertical opening position of the element to be able to disassemble the hinge and deposit it.

The facing surfaces 231, 232 of the branches of the fork being intended to slide or likely to slide against the surfaces facing the pivot 14 during pivoting guided in rotation of the element 2 around the pivot, and the pivot having a generally cylindrical shape, these facing surfaces extend approximately parallel and horizontally when the element is in the closed position, at a distance from one another greater than the diameter of the pivot, and are connected by a rounded surface 233 constituting the bottom of the fork.

In the embodiment of Figures 2A to 2D, the upper branch has a retaining recess 234 extending into the bottom of the fork or a plurality of spaced apart retaining recesses 234 in the transverse direction of the cell, and the pivot or the pivots have one or more retaining lugs 141 projecting upwards each at least partially housed in a recess 234 when the element is in the closed position (Figure 2A); or the recesses do not extend or extend little beyond the pivot towards the free end of the upper branch, and end in this region by an inclined surface close to the vertical, in the immediate vicinity of ergot; in the opposite direction, the recess 234 extends into the bottom of the fork and ends at the birth of the lower branch; the lug 141 carried by the pivot and partially housed in the recess 234 when the element 2 is in the closed position thus prevents the translation of the element in the direction of the distance of the pin 23 relative to the bottom 15 of the cell 13, and thus prevents the end free of the lower branch comes below the pivot. As a result, it is impossible to substantially raise the element 2 by translation perpendicular to its plane without the translation being impeded by the pivot 14 (FIG. 2B), and that it is only after a prior pivoting (FIG. 2C), possible only if the element 2 is not locked, that one can lift this element avoiding the hindrance of the pivot (Figure 2D) and remove the element; in addition, the lug 141 preventing any significant longitudinal movement of the element 2, ensures the correct positioning thereof in the frame without the need to assist its descent by hand when closing, and it it is possible to let the element fall suddenly without fear that it is skewed on the frame, the cooperation of the lug 14 with the inclined surface of the recess 234 ensuring the retention of the element 2 during its abrupt closure. Preferably, the recess (s) 234 of the fork (for example two recesses) and the corresponding lug (s) 141 of the pivot are made at one or at the lateral end regions of the fork and the pivot respectively, in particular for reasons of convenience of machining, but this feature is not mandatory.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 3A to 3D, the pivot 14 has a recess or several spaced apart retaining recesses 142 in the transverse direction of the recess 13 (longitudinal direction of the pivot) made opposite the bottom 15 of the cell 13; the upper leg of the fork has one or more retaining lugs 235 projecting downwards each at least partially housed in a recess 142 when the element is in the closed position (Figure 3A); or the lugs 235 then extend, in the direction of the free end of the branch, beyond the pivot 14, and the walls vis-à-vis the bottom of the recess 142 and the lug 235 are slightly inclined in opposite directions when the element is in the closed position (the wall of the lug being inclined downwards towards the bottom 15 of the cell and that of the recess downwards in the opposite direction) ; the lug carried by the upper branch and partially housed in the recess when the element is in the closed position thus prevents the translation of the element 2 in the direction of the distance of the pin 23 from the bottom 15 of the cell 13, and thus prevents the free end of the lower branch comes below the pivot 14. It follows that it is impossible to significantly lift the element 2 by translation perpendicular to its plane without the translation being impeded by the pivot 14 (Figure 3B), and that it is only after a prior pivoting (Figure 3C), possible only if the element is not locked , that the element 2 can be lifted while avoiding the hindrance of the pivot (FIG. 3D) and remove the element; again, the lugs preventing any significant longitudinal movement of the element, ensure the correct positioning thereof in the frame without the need to assist its descent by hand when closing, and it is possible to let it fall suddenly without fear that it is skewed on the frame.

Preferably, so as not to weaken the pivot, it has only a recess 142 approximately central, and the fork has an approximately central pin 235 corresponding, but this feature is not mandatory.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 2A to 2D, and 3A to 3D, respectively, the pivot 14 further comprises one or more lower guide lugs 143 slightly protruding from the periphery of the pivot, in a direction making an angle of 45.degree. ° approximately with the vertical and inclined downward towards the interior of the frame; the distance from the free end of these guide pins 143 to the hinge axis 12 is approximately equal (generally slightly less) to the half-diagonal of the square circumscribing the circle defining the shape of the right cross section of the pivot.

The guide pin 143 facilitates the closure of the element 2 and forces the retaining pin to be positioned in the corresponding recess, as a result of its cooperation with the sliding surface 232 of the lower branch of the fork when the closing movement; moreover, in these embodiments, the upper branch has at its free end, near the bottom of the cell 13, a tooth 236 projecting downwards when the element 2 is in the closed position.

However, in these embodiments, assuming that the lower branch is only slightly shorter than the upper branch, it is possible to remove the covering element 2 only when it is in the almost vertical position of full opening.

There is then a risk for an operator who lifts the element 2, given the mass of the latter, to trip in the opening of the frame 1 or to let the element fall into this access opening. To avoid this risk, it is desirable that the element can be lifted by two operators as horizontally as the need to maintain an effective locking (removal quasi-horizontal).

This is why preferably the lower branch is significantly shortened, and all the more so that it is desired that the angle between the position of removal and the closed position is low.

In the embodiments shown in the figures, to allow that the element 2 can be deposited almost horizontally by translation parallel to itself as soon as it has been made to pivot about 7 ° relative to its closing position (horizontal) to avoid the obstacle constituted by the pivot 14, in the closed position the lower branch has its free end below the pivot and preferably below the axis of articulation, and thus the sliding surface 232 of the lower branch extends over a length, towards the free end of the branch, extremely short.

The inclined end surfaces of the recesses located vis-à-vis the lugs have the advantage, giving a little play, to ensure that the retaining lugs 141 do not oppose the removal quasi-horizontal; if one does not wish to obtain this quasi-horizontal removal, these inclined surfaces are useless.

With a lower branch shortened, the removal can be performed from a low angle (about 7 ° in the case of embodiments shown), to the vertical. On the other hand, when the element 2 is in the closed (horizontal) position, it can not be removed without first having been rotated by 7 ° in the direction of opening.

This arrangement therefore prevents the removal of secure covering elements, that is to say provided with a locking device (latch or lock opposite the hinge), including trap door pads. safe pit, and thus prevents acts of vandalism since it must initially unlock the buffer to be inclined 7 ° to deposit.

Claims (10)

1. A closing device for a manhole or an inspection hole, comprising a frame (1), at least one covering member (2) adapted to be carried by the frame, and means for articulating the member (2) on the frame (1), the articulation means comprising at least one pin (14) extending transversely through at least one socket (13) provided in a surrounding wall (11) of the frame, and at least one hook (23) projecting from the periphery of the member (2), the hook being adapted so as to extend into the socket and comprising a fork having two prongs, one of which, when the member (2) is in the closed position on the frame, extends above and beyond the pin (14) towards the base (15) of the socket (13), and the other of which extends below the pin under the upper prong, characterised in that the fork and the pin comprise facing sliding surfaces adapted to slide against one another when the member is pivoted about the pin, and one of either the upper prong or the pin comprises at least one retaining recess (234; 142) and the respective other comprises at least one retaining projection (141; 235) at least partly housed in the recess when the member (2) is in the closed position, thereby preventing displacement of the member in the direction in which the hook (23) is moved away from the base (15) of the socket (13) and thus preventing the free end of the lower prong from moving under the pin (14).
2. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the prong extending below the pin (14) in the closed position has its free end below the pin.
3. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the pin (14) has a generally cylindrical shape centred on an axis (12) extending transversely to the socket (13), and the prong extending below the pin in the closed position thus only extends on this side of the articulation axis.
4. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the retaining projection (141; 235) and the recess (234; 142) have facing inclined surfaces when the member (2) is in the closed position.
5. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the pin (14) comprises at least one guide projection (143) extending at an angle downwards towards the interior of the frame (1).
6. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the prong extending above the pin (14) in the closed position comprises, at its free end, in proximity to the base (15) of the socket (13), a tooth (236) projecting downwards when the member (2) is in the closed position.
7. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the prong extending above the pin (14) in the closed position has at least one recess (234) extending into the base of the fork, and the pin (14) has at least one retaining projection (141) extending upwards and at least partly housed in the recess when the member (2) is in the closed position.
8. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the prong extending above the pin (14) in the closed position has two recesses (234) extending into the base of the fork and hollowed into lateral end regions of this prong, and two retaining projections (141) extending upwards and carried by at least one pin (14) are each at least partly housed in a recess (234) when the member (2) is in the closed position.
9. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the pin has at least one recess (142) opposite the base (15) of the socket (13), and the prong extending above the pin (14) in the closed position has at least one retaining projection (235) at least partly housed in the recess (142) when the member (2) is in the closed position.
10. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the pin has an approximately central recess (142) opposite the base (15) of the socket (13), and the prong extending above the pin (14) in the closed position has a retaining projection (235) at least partly housed in the recess (142) when the member (2) is in the closed position.

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